What’s a Superbloom?
While it’s not an official botanical designation, the word “superbloom” describes the rare occurrence when millions of long-dormant wildflower seeds explode all at the same time to welcome a new season.
In recent years, “superbloom” has become more of a well-known term for this natural phenomena that far exceeds the typical scale of spring blooms.
Occurring only about once each decade, superblooms happen only when weather conditions magically align with the perfect combination of water, sun, winds, and temperatures. The awe and scale of this rare phenomenon is unparalleled, with blossoms carpeting desert floors, grassy hills, and canyons.
Millions of butterflies are also attracted to a superbloom, creating a stunning visual of flora & fauna thriving together. Superblooms are so vast that they’ve sometimes even been visible from space!
When superblooms do happen, they can appear throughout southern and central California. They can also manifest in the desert blooms and grassland wildflowers of Chile, South Africa, Mexico, and western Australia.
In each place, superblooms creative endless seas of vibrant wildflowers, all native to and thriving in their environments.
This explosion of flora is often a long-awaited occurrence for many flower enthusiasts. In recent years, southern California had two surprising superblooms in both 2017 and 2019, with longtime wildflower seekers as well as large crowds traveling out to bountiful fields of flowers in nearby state and national parks, as well as in smaller towns.
Image credit: Eileen Park Peed
With this spectacular beauty comes the need for great responsibility and reciprocity with the ecosystem, as wildflower seekers are urged to stay on marked paths and not wander in the fields and meadows.
While it’s critical for visitors to respect the land and tread lightly—as off-path damage to the these areas can destroy and impact the natural cycle of wildflowers for years to come—superbloom enthusiasts have shared their experiences and stunning photos worldwide, introducing even more folks to these tremendous, yet quietly enthralling, botanic happenings.
We all have a little superbloom in us…
Our deep connections to the natural world remind us that ordinary things can actually be magical, whether collectively or in their singularity.
This kind of reminder of the incredible natural wonder that surrounds us – be it an entire superbloom or a single plant sprouting up through a crack in the sidewalk – can also provide perspective in our day-to-day lives.
The Superbloom brand is rooted in this very theme: celebrating natural abundance, evoking the same kind of gorgeous overwhelm of flowers — all year round! — and noticing the small wonders of beauty around us.
Whether we’re celebrating imaginative botanical entrepreneurs and artists, obsessing over floral patterns and projects, sharing our favorite products and ideas, or focusing on a topic through a floral lens, we have the same goals to bring a sense of joy and abundance to each day, to inspire creativity and connection with nature, and to bring together a vibrant and caring flower-loving community.
For more information on superblooms and spring wildflowers, visit the Theodore Payne Foundation, California State Parks, and National Park Service websites.
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Where to see these ephemeral beauties across the U.S.
Our map of West Coast wildflower viewing spots
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